Match packet



11, 1943. A. F. HODGES 2,318,942

MATCH PACKET Filed March 2, 1942 I m/entor y WW Patented May 11, 1943UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATCH PACKET Alfred Franklin Hodges,Philadelphia, Pa. Application March 2, 1942, Serial No. 433,067

1 Claim. (Cl. 206-29) The invention relates to an improved match packetwherein the body of detachable paper matches is swingable relative tothe walls of the packet to expose the matches for detachment and use,the body of matches being swingable to restore it in its closed positionwithin said walls, and the primary object of the invention is to providea simple and efiicient arrangement of this character which is moreconvenient and comfortable in use than prevailing types of matchpackets.

Other important objects and advantages of my invention will be apparentfrom a reading of the following description taken in connection with theappended drawing, wherein for purposes of illustration a preferredembodiment of the invention is shown.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a general side elevational view of the packet partly brokenaway to show the position of some of the matches therein, and showing indotted lines enclosed and exposed positions of the match body.

Figure 2 is a right hand end elevational view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawin the numeral 5 generally designates theimproved match packet which comprises the enclosing element 6, which inits most elemental form is an elongated rectangular sheet of paper,cardboard, metal, or plastic or other suitable material foldedtransversely at its middle to form a relatively widely curved bend l,and with the ends 8 brought up even with each other. The corners on oneend of the edges 8 are cut away as indicated by the numerals 9 toprovide convenient access to the match body which is generallydesignated I0 and which forms the second main component of the packet.

The match body I0 is generally similar to those now in use in papermatch packets. This match body consists of the paper matches ll risingin a double row from the upper edge of horizontally elongated paper orsimilar material base portions l2 which are reinforced by similarlyshapedoutside plies l3. In the present instance addltlonal similarlyshaped reinforcing strips M are placed at the outer sides of the pliesI3 to add additional reinforcement and to the increase the overall widthor thickness of the basal portion of the match body, in the mannerexemplified in Figure 2 of the drawing, and thereby provide a relativelywide surface IS on the bottom of the match body to accommodate arelatively Wide and sturdy, and, therefore, efficient match scratchingsurface providing member IS. The various plies of the match body may besecured together by present methods or by any suitable means, and thematch scratching surface element It may be secured to the bottom l5 ofthe resulting assembly in any suitable manner.

As indicated in Figure 2 of the drawing, the match body is mountedwithin the enclosure 6 so that when the bottom of the match body isparallel with the lower edges 8 of the enclosure the element I 6 will besubstantially flush with the lower edges 8.

To mount the match body swingab1y within the enclosure a suitablelow-cost combined securing element and pivot I! is associated with thematch body l0 and with the side walls of the enclosure 6 in a suitablemanner, as by passing through these bodies, so that they can swingrelative to each other. In the present instance heads I!) may beprovided on a wire pivot to engage the outer sides of the side walls ofthe enclosure to hold the pin in place and the enclosure assembled withthe match body.

As indicated in Figure l of the drawing, the match body having beenproperly mounted within the enclosure 6, one corner of the match bodyprojects beyond the cut away portions 9, so that it is a simple andnatural maneuver of the fingers of the user to engage the exposedportion of the match body and swing the same into either of the dottedline positions illustrated in Figure 7 1 of the drawing, wherein thematches I l are totally exposed and may be easily separated from thematch body and the match body returned to enclosed position wherein thestriking surface I6 is safely exposed for igniting the match severedfrom the match body, by striking the match thereagainst.

Although there is shown and described herein a preferred embodiment ofthe invention it is to be understood that it is not intended to limitthe application of the invention thereto beyond the scope of thesubjoined claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A match packet comprising a hood forming strip folded intermediate theends thereof to provide spaced apart sides for the hood and opposedparallel ends therefor, a match assembly including match stems, andstrip-like filler members arranged in pairs upon opposite sides of thetail ends of said stems and between which said stems are secured, saidstem ends and filler strips forming a base for the assembly spacing thematches clear from both sides of the hood, and a pivot pin extendingcentrally through said sides of the hood and said base and securing thebase between said ends of the hood for swinging movement of the assemblyout of and into the hood, the sides of the hood having beveled corneredges exposing a portion of said base for engagement by a finger toswing the assembly out of the hood,

said base having an edge match scratching strip thereon fitting flushwith said ends of the hood when said assembly is swung into the hood.whereby matches may be scratched crosswise of said scratching strip atany point along the same when the assembly is swung into the hood.

ALFRED FRANKLIN HODGES.

